I am a bilingual art educator, administrator, author, and expressive arts therapist, currently working towards a PhD in Expressive Therapies. I have worked with a range of under-served populations in the US, including youth, adults with severe mental illness, incarcerated males, and Native American communities with an emphasis on utilizing creative modalities to address trauma.  I have presented at local, state, national, and international levels on a variety of topics related to trauma treatment, art therapy, and working within interdisciplinary teams.  I hold BA degree in Visual Arts Teaching and Spanish and MA in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy.  I reside in Mexico, where I am focused on exploring the role of textiles and other folk art traditions for healing and well-being.

As an artist and art therapist, I tend to work intuitively and eclectically, creating with mixed-media (found items, paper, textiles, paint, pastel, clay) or integrating art, storytelling, poetry, play and/or movement.  I started my career as an expressive arts therapist simultaneously working with adults with chronic and severe mental illness, and creating a group art therapy program for youth.  This prepared me to work with increasingly challenging – and rewarding – populations, including, community-based trauma therapy with Native Americans on a reservation, supervising Level II residential group homes, and providing treatment for maximum and super-maximum security level male inmates.  I am a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist, Licensed Counselor, and Nationally Certified Counselor.